MATA'U ART

The Sperm Whale is an icon of Nantucket Island because of it's rich whaling history, thus the focus of our work. Because each work is made from naturally formed Nantucket beach stones, there are no two pieces alike. Each is a signed one of a kind piece of art. We offer a wide variety of sizes that may be sold individually or in sets . Most of our work is matted and framed in our own custom made shadow boxes, others are mounted on 200 year old reclaimed lumber salvaged from historical Nantucket homes. We are very happy to accomodate your decorating and design needs as much as it is possible. We offer shipping in the USA and world wide.

We hope that you will enjoy our site. Here you will find unique art work that is in every sense "a piece of Nantucket"

About the artist:

Around the 19th century, Nantucket whalers sailed the Pacific in search of the elusive Sperm whale. Many Nantucket ships recruited natives from the Pacific islands including my homeland of Samoa. Nantucketer’s, in time’s past, referred to these island people groups as ‘the Kanakas’ or in Samoan, “Tagatas” which means, “peoples”.

Coincidentally, I married a descendant of the Starbuck family, who made a prosperous living from the whales’ coveted spermaceti oil. After making Nantucket our year-round home and being re-united with our whaling heritage, I am creating unique pieces of art working with hand-picked stones naturally fashioned from the beautiful shores of Nantucket Island. As my Samoan whaler ancestors worked on the ships along side the Nantucketers in hopes of bringing in the mighty giant of the sea, I desire to bring the beautiful creature to life while preserving a part of Nantucket’s historical fiber.